Commentary on the Epistles and Revelation of John, Commentary 19
A COMMENTARY OR EXPOSITION VponUpon the ſecond Epiſtle of S. IOHN.
CHAP. I. Verſe 1. The Elder to the elect Lady]
SAlmeron the Jeſuite ſaith (but very abſurdly) that Seneca's letters to S. Paul, and S. Pauls to Seneca, (as they are called) are for matter not much unlike this of S. John to the elect Lady, and to Gaius, and that of S. Paul to Philemon. Judicium ſit penes lectorem. Me thinks they are no more like then harp and harrow.
Verſe 3. For the truths ſake] This is the love that will hold again, and is a ſure ſigne of love unfained, when it is thus well founded. Siniſterity is oppoſite to ſincerity. Some love the Saints as Iſaac loved Eſau, for the veniſon that he brought him, &c.
Verſe 3. Grace be with you, &c.] This bleſſing belongs not only to the Lady and her children, but to all that rightly reade and hear the words of this Epiſtle, Revel. 1.3.
Verſe 4. I rejoyced greatly] This cheared up his good old heart more then any outward reſpects, or courteſies whatſoever. See 1 Theſſ. 3.8.
Walking in the truth] Not taking a ſtep or two, not breaking or leaping over the hedge to avoid a piece of foul way, but perſiſting in a Chriſtian courſe, &c. not ſtarting aſide to the right hand or the left.
Verſe 5. That we love, &c.] God laies no other commands upon us then what we may perform by love, that lightneth and ſweetneth all. His ſubjects and ſouldiers are all voluntiers, Pſal. 110.3.
Verſe 6. As ye have heard] He ſtudiouſly declines the ſuſpition of novelty. foreign See the Note on 1 John 2.7.
Verſe 7. For many deceivers] Gr. Cheaters, cozeners, foreignſuch as can cog a die to deceive the unskilfull, Epheſ. 4 14. caſt a miſt to delude even the quick-ſighted.
Verſe 8. That we loſe not, &c.] The godly, when they fall into foul courſes, or grow remiſſe and leave their firſt love, may loſe what they have wrought, 1. in reſpect of the praiſe of men. 2. In reſpect of their own former feelings of Gods favour. 3. In reſpect of the fulneſſe of their reward in heaven. The Nazarite that broke his vow, was to begin all anew, Numb. 6.
Verſe 9. Hath not God] And ſo conſequently, hath nothing.Aug. Bern. Habec omnia qui habet habentem omni …, He hath all, that hath the Haver of all: But ſine Deo omnis copiaest egestas. Plenty without God becomes penury. The wicked for want of God, in the fulneſſe of his ſufficiency is in ſtraits, Iob 20.22. as he that hath God for his portion, in the fulneſſe of his ſtraits, is in a ſufficiency.
Verſe 10. And bring not this doctrine] If he hold not the foundation, but be found heterodox and hereticall.
Receive him not, &c.] Illam domum in qua fuerit inventus hareticus diruend…m decernimus: Down with that houſe, that harbours an heretike, ſaid the Councel of Tholouſe in their Conſtitution againſt the Albigenſes, whom they miſtook for heretikes.
Neither bid him God ſpeed] Shew not love, where you ow nothing but hatred. I hate every falſe way, ſaith David. And I ſhall look upon Auxentius, as upon a devil, ſo long as he is an Arrian, ſaid Hilarius.
Verſe 11. Is partaker of his evil] 1. By his ſinfull ſilence and diſſimulation. 2. Next, by confirming the ſinner in his evil way. 3. Laſtly, by offence given to others.
Verſe 12. That our joy may be full] See, ſaith one, an Apoſtle furthered and quickned by the graces of a woman. When ſuch Grandees in grace have benefit by communion of Saints, how much more they whoſe meaſures are leſſe?
Verſe 13. The children of thine elect] Who probably ſojourned with S. Iohn for education-ſake. The Lady might ſay to the Apoſtle, as he in Virgil did to Aeneas,
—ſub te toler are magistr…
Militiam—tua cernere facta
Aſſueſcant, primis & te mirentur ab annis.